Band instrument mouthpiece



Dec. 9, 1941. J F GRABER 2,265,756

BAND INSTRUMENT MOUTHPIECE Filed July 5, 1941 1 4 INVENTOR. Jam es F Graber BY I m'rfwmb A TTORNEYJ Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAND INSTRUMENT MOUTHPIECE James Franklin Graber, Winters, Calif., assignor to Elsie M. Graber, Winters, Calif.

Application July 5, 1941, Serial No. 401,141

7 Claims. (Cl. 84-398) This invention relates in general to an improvement in th mouthpiece of musical instruments, and in particular is directed to, and it is my principal object to provide, an improvement in cup-type mouthpieces such as are commonly used in band instruments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cup-type mouthpiece which is fitted on the inner surface of the cup with a supporting bridge for the lower lip of the musician, such bridge being effective to produce desirable results, as will hereinafter be specified.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly elfective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cup-type mouth-piece embodying my invention; the cup and bridge being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan, partly in section, on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the cup showing the bridge from one side.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section of the bridge taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, my improvement is embodied in a conventional cup-type mouthpiece which includes an outwardly opening cup I supported by a tubular stem 2; the cup recess tapering, as at 3, from the outer end of the cup inwardly to a restricted passage 4.

The bridge comprises an elongated strip of metal 5 of substantial thickness or elevation beveled or chamfered as at 6 from top to bottom along opposite side edges, and drawing to a point I at its inner end.

This bridge is disposed within the cup on its lower side and rests in substantially parallel relation on the cup recess; the bridge extending in a direction lengthwise of the mouthpiece, and being of such length as to extend from adjacent but inwardly of the outer edge of the cup to a point adjacent but short of passage 4. In other words, the elongated bridg intersects the central circumferential portion of cup recess 3 at the lower side of the cup.

At its outer end, the bridge is formed with an integral, flat or strip like finger 8 which is relatively narrow; such finger projecting outward and curving downward about the outer edge or lip 9 of cup I, such finger being countersunk into said lip as shown at H! whereby to maintain the lip 9 as an unbroken surface.

In use, the bridge 5 in the cup portion of the mouthpiece serves as a supporting member for the lower lip of the musician, reducing lip fatigue to a minimum, adding to the endurance of the performer, and improving the ton to a great extent, and so that an unvarying tonal quality may be obtained throughout the entire register.

In conventional mouthpieces the tones are principally produced by the upper lip, whereas with my improvement the tones are in the main made with the lower lip.

With the use of my bridge for the lower lip, th forming of an embouohure is substantially facilitated, both for beginners and experienced musicians. In a few weeks a person can accomplish a proper lip position and an excellent tone which heretofore often required a much longer period of training and practice.

The bridge which comprises this improvement may be applied to all band instruments which require a cup mouthpiece, such as bugles, cornets, trumpets, French horns, melophones, altos, trombones, baritones and basses, and will give improved results in all cases.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviation from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cup type mouthpiece which includes a cup having a forwardly tapering recess therein; an elevated, lip supporting element secured in the cup on the lower side of the recess, said element being elongated lengthwise of the mouthpiece, and relatively narrow circumferentially of the cup.

2. In a cup type mouthpiece which includes a cup having a forwardly tapering recess therein; an elevated, lip supporting element secured in the cup on the lower side of the recess, said element being relatively fiat, elongated and extending lengthwise of the mouthpiece from a point wise of the cup and relatively narrow circum'-- ferentially thereof.

5. In a cup type mouthpiece which includes a cup having a forwardly tapering recess therein; an elevated, lip supporting bridge disposed in the cup and resting on the lower sideof. the recess, and a finger formed with and projecting outwardly from the bridge lengthwise of the cup-inengagementv withthe. lower side of the recess,-v

said finger at its outer end curving about and being countersunk to a flush position in the outer edge of the cup.

6. In a cup type mouthpiece which includes a cup having a forwardly tapering recess therein; an elevated, lip supporting element disposed in the cup on the lower side of the recess, said element being elongated lengthwise of the cup and relatively narrow, and a securing finger projecting from said element and extending over the outer edge of the cup, the extending portion of said finger being countersunk flush in said edge.

7. Ina cuptype mouthpiece which includes a cup having a forwardly tapering recess therein; an elevated, lip supporting bridge in the cup resting on the lower side of the recess, and means securing? the bridge and cup together, said bridge being shorter than the cup and relatively narrow.

JAMES FRANKLIN GRABER. 

